Chapter 6: The Letter She Never Sent
Nia couldn’t look away from the envelope.
Her name stared back at her.
Written in her mother’s handwriting.
Again.
The same handwriting that had haunted her for the last hour.
The same handwriting that suddenly seemed to contain an entire life she had never been allowed to see.
Bear looked at Marcus.
“Get out.””
Marcus smiled.
“You don’t want her hearing the truth?””
“She deserves the truth.””
“Interesting.””
Marcus tilted his head.
“Because that wasn’t what you believed thirty years ago.””
Nia looked at Bear.
“What is he talking about?””
Bear didn’t answer.
That was becoming a pattern.
And she was done with patterns.
“Open your mouth.””
Both men looked at her.
She stepped forward.
“I said answer me.””
Her voice surprised even herself.
“I spent my whole life being the person everyone protected from the truth. I’m tired of being the last person to know.””
Marcus smiled slightly.
“There she is.””
Bear’s eyes hardened.
“Don’t talk about her like you know her.””
Marcus ignored him.
“Nia, your mother wasn’t afraid of Bear.””
Nia looked at him.
“She was afraid of what happened when he was around.””
Bear’s jaw tightened.
“Enough.””
Marcus walked closer.
“Tell her.””
Bear said nothing.
“Tell her why you disappeared.””
Nia turned.
“Bear?””
His face changed.
The anger disappeared.
Only sadness remained.
“I didn’t disappear.””
Marcus laughed.
“That’s what you’re going with?””
Bear looked at him.
“I was forced out.””
“By who?””
Marcus smiled.
“Ask him.””
Nia felt the room spinning.
“Ask who?””
Neither man answered.
The silence was unbearable.
Then Marcus looked at the envelope.
“Your mother wrote that letter the night she left.””
Nia grabbed it.
“Left where?””
Marcus smiled.
“Ask Bear.””
She looked at him.
“Did you know she was leaving?””
Bear swallowed.
“Yes.””
“Did you let her?””
The question hurt him.
“Yes.””
Nia stepped back.
“Why?””
Bear’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“Because she told me if I stayed, you would die.””
The words froze her.
“What?””
Marcus’s expression changed slightly.
Almost like he enjoyed seeing the confusion.
Bear continued.
“I thought protecting you meant staying away.””
Nia stared.
“You thought?””
His eyes filled.
“I was wrong.””
The honesty hurt.
More than a lie would have.
She opened the envelope.
Inside was a single folded page.
Her hands shook as she unfolded it.
The first line read:
*Dear Nia,*
She stopped breathing.
She had not heard her mother’s voice in years.
But somehow, reading her words felt like hearing it.
She continued.
*If you are reading this, then the truth has finally found you.*
Nia’s eyes moved faster.
*I spent my life trying to keep you away from the people who wanted to use you to hurt him.*
Her heartbeat increased.
*But there is something you need to know about Bear.*
She looked up.
Bear was watching her.
Marcus was watching her.
Everyone was waiting.
She read the next sentence.
Then her face changed.
Because the letter did not say Bear abandoned her.
It said something else.
Something impossible.
*Bear was the only person who saved you.*
Nia looked at him.
“What does this mean?””
Bear closed his eyes.
Marcus took a step backward.
And for the first time, Marcus looked nervous.
Nia looked back at the letter.
There was one final line beneath her mother’s words.
A line written darker than the rest.
A warning.
*But if Bear ever finds you again, it means they already know where you are.*
The store lights flickered.
Nia slowly raised her head.
Bear was staring past her.
Toward the front entrance.
His face had gone pale.
“Don’t turn around.””
Nia froze.
“Why?””
Bear whispered:
“Because the person who’s been watching you…”
The door opened.
May you like
A shadow appeared.
“…just walked in.””
